by Reviewrz

Created on: March 08, 2007   Last Updated: November 30, 2010

The idea of an exam can be too stressful for a lot of people. Whether it's because of adrenaline, or lack of sleep from the night before, a lot of people who know the material and should do well, for some reason, don't.

I would like to focus on the mental side of things in preparing for exams. Whether you write notes, don't write notes, use a highlighter, type essays, or just read the textbook, there are certain things you can do to increase your performance. You will need to work out how to do all of the nitty gritty when it comes to study, because each person is different.

The following is a list of things for you to try that are focused on the mental side of preparation:

1) Give yourself enough time - if you start your study the night before, you will not do well. If you write notes throughout the term and are not rushed when it comes to exams, you will do well.

2) Do not over-study - it is surprisingly easy to over-study, especially when you are surrounded by motivated and conscientious people. This is counterproductive. Know what you would like to learn at the beginning of the day, and what you are capable of. Then, work hard and efficiently, and finish when you have reached your target. Don't push yourself by going over the notes one more time, especially in the days before the exam.

3) Work efficiently - as mentioned in point 2, two hours of productive work may be worth the same as 4 hours of unproductive work. The benefit of not overworking yourself is that you can maintain a high level of efficiency for a short time

4) Your body is a machine. If you work the machine to hard, it will fail - just like you turn your computer off when you have finished working with it, you need to turn your brain off ever now and again. Don't feel bad because you're watching TV the night before the exam. If you're honest with yourself, and you've done the work you set out to, your body will reward you.

5) Get enough sleep - as with the above point, you need to get enough sleep, specifically the night(s) before the exam. Although you might not be working physically, you are straining your brain, and it needs its time to re-energize so that it can perform in the exam.

6) Arrive at your exam early - there is nothing worse than rushing into an exam because you got caught in traffic. Your heart will be beating fast, and there is every chance that the exam will be over before you realize it.

7) Be confident - because you have put in the time and effort in the lead-up, know that you have the capabilities to do well. If you believe you can get a good mark, then hard questions will not seem that hard.

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